ISDA Food Export Intern

Work for Indiana

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA):

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture was established as a separate state agency by the Legislature in 2005. The Director of ISDA is appointed by the Governor and is a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. The ISDA vision is to be a global leader in innovation and commercialization for food, fuel, and fiber production. For more info click this link: http://www.in.gov/isda/

Role Overview: 

ISDA is committed to enhancing the state’s agricultural industry by expanding export opportunities for local producers. ISDA works closely with partners like the Food Export Association of the Midwest to promote U.S. food and agricultural products in international markets.

The Food Export Intern supports ISDA and Food Export-Midwest international marketing activities that promote the export of Indiana agricultural products to global markets. The intern will perform international marketing, project management, and administrative tasks in support of ISDA staff on Food Export activities. Intern will have the opportunity to work directly with agricultural exporters to provide assistance and share information on export resources. The intern must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, be able to conduct detailed desk research, and manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.

The Food Export Intern will be part-time, internship position employed by ISDA and will report to the ISDA International Trade Director. Food Export-Midwest may reimburse ISDA for intern wages and may require regular reporting and oversight. Intern will support ISDA's mission and work to successfully carry out department goals.

Salary Statement: 

This position traditionally starts at an hourly rate of $18.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience.

A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows: 

• Recruit companies to participate in ISDA and Food Export-Midwest international marketing events and programs.
• Collect information for ISDA/Food Export-Midwest newsletters, marketing material, websites, and other outreach efforts.
• Hold one-on-one discussions with companies about export opportunities and available assistance.
• Attend industry events to meet and build relationships with exporters and partner agencies.
• Update ISDA/Food Export-Midwest databases of companies.
• Collect evaluations from companies that have participated in Food Export-Midwest activities.
• Generate success stories from companies that have participated in ISDA or Food Export-Midwest activities.
• Participate actively in Food Export-Midwest and State intern training activities, including in-person and virtual sessions.
• Other duties related to value-added food and agricultural export promotion as assigned by ISDA.

The job profile is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice. 

What You'll Need for Success:

Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following:

• Ability to communicate and build relationships with people from a variety of backgrounds and responsibility levels.
• Ability to work in cross-functional teams and be customer service oriented.
• Proficient with MS Office and familiarity with customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
• Interest in agriculture, international business, international marketing, event management, and/or sales.
• Time management skills and the ability to prioritize work and solve problems independently.
• General knowledge and understanding of international marketing and agriculture.
• Self-motivated, a self-starter, and effective presentation skills.
• Familiarity with project and event management best practices.
• Able to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

This seasonal position does not offer benefits and is limited to 180 working days in an eleven (11) month continuous period.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at [email protected].